Bobby McMann became an unlikely hero in the Maple Leafs’ thrilling 7-3 comeback win over the Canadiens on Saturday night at Ball Arena. But it wasn’t just his goal that had everyone talking—it was how he scored it.
In the middle of the action in the second period, McMann found himself in need of a stick after breaking his one on the ice. It was Matthew Knies who held out his own stick from the bench as McMann skated past the group without one.
“I saw a couple guys’ sticks—one of Matty’s,” Bobby McMann said in the post-game interview. “I thought that’d be the closest to it. Didn’t really think about the white tape though—that’s always a difference.”
lol McMann had Knies' stick and scored with it
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) January 19, 2025
the point was to thank him pic.twitter.com/r7ubGAf1RG
“And then it actually felt good. I won a battle with it, and then the puck came around. Felt like I had to bend over a little bit more—he’s a little shorter. But then I was like, ‘I’ve got to rip this with his stick and see what happens.’”
Rip it, he did. McMann’s goal not only put the Leafs on the board but also swung momentum their way in a game that had been all Canadiens early on.
“It’s great to get that first one,” McMann said. “You’re always pushing for it, and when it comes, it’s a big boost—not just for me, but for the team. Especially after the way that first period went.”
The unexpected stick swap turned into a locker-room joke. “The guys—and even some coaches—were all saying I should be using white tape from now on,” McMann laughed. “I might need to try it out in a couple practices before I commit.”
McMann also gave credit where it was due. “Robinson’s goal late in the second period was huge,” he said. “Going into the third, we felt like we had a real shot at the comeback. And Joseph? He was unreal. There were moments where I was thinking, ‘Oh no,’ but he’d come up with these highlight-reel saves. We’re lucky to have him back there.”
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When asked about the first intermission, McMann revealed the team’s mindset. “Honestly, it was all positivity. We weren’t playing our game, but we know we’re a great team. We just needed to stick to the plan, and we’d come out on top.”
McMann’s rise to the first power-play unit hasn’t gone unnoticed either. “Those guys make it easy,” he said. “They’re so good at communicating, and I just try to support them as best as I can.”
In a game filled with twists and turns, McMann’s stick-swap saga and clutch performance proved to be just the spark the Leafs needed. Maybe white tape really is the secret weapon.